a red wound cuts the earth for hajime yoshida + yoshihiro mikami's land art in japan

japanese culture respects the ground, and is compared to a mother, so design firm hajime yoshida architecture and yoshihiro mikami created a piece that changes the way we see the earth. the land art piece ‘I was born’ was designed for ‘rokko meets art 2019’ in rokkosan, japan. 

the artists appeared to carefully cut a hole in the ground and covered it in a deep red. the bold move sits in a dirt courtyard, contrasting strikingly against its surroundings. the elongated, yet slender shape, gives it the notion of being a small wound in the ground, parting lips, or an accidental cut to the earth. 

the inside reveals to have steps that ascend even deeper into the earth. when standing amidst the piece, the viewers get a completely different perspective of their surroundings. the artists say, ‘we are strongly aware of the existence of the earth, and at the same time ‘others’ see ‘I’ who is experiencing art as an extraordinary [experience] in ordinary landscape. it is an art space that connects… the earth and people.’

project info:

project name: I was born

location: rokkosan, japan

design: hajime yoshida architecture + yoshihiro mikami

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: cristina gomez | designboom